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Posts Tagged ‘Branford apartments’

With rent prices climbing higher over the past years, many renters question whether they should rent or buy. A new survey by Freddy Mac found that 78-percent of renters across all generations still believe that renting is more affordable than owning a home. This is 11 points higher than in February 2018, when the same survey was conducted.

From Stamford to Norwalk to Branford, the rental market is hot and the lack of availability is only one cause of rental rates skyrocketing. Within the past months, Apartments.com listed more than 2,000 units for rent in Fairfield County, with Zillow listing about 530 standalone houses available on a rental basis. How can you get an amazing apartment in Connecticut when the renter’s market is so tight? Our CTBest team strives to provide renters with a convenient, safe and affordable place to live. (more…)

In 1998, J.K. Rowling released her infamous book series, Harry Potter, which took millions of kids’ imaginations by storm. Who knew 18 years later, those eager children who longed to be a graduate of Hogwarts could attend a university that is the closest real-life school to Hogwarts that one can get. Like Harry Potter, lucky high school seniors are summoned from their former life with an acceptance letter to an Ivy League school. Here are some uncanny ways in which Yale resembles Hogwarts: (more…)

Stepping outside in the frigid Connecticut air, it may be difficult to remember why winter in the city is something to be thankful for. Besides being ready with all sorts of ice and snow activities, the chilled atmosphere is much more enjoyable for many than a hot, humid and sticky summer day in the crowded streets of downtown. Get to know your surrounding cities when the air is crisp and the twinkling lights create a relaxing, magical feel.

City life comes with distinct odors. While there are fresh flower aromas and whiffs of delicious food on every corner, there are also scents of less appealing matter. In the city, subway platforms can get over 90 degrees in the summer and to beat it all, there is no breeze! With winter in full swing, everyone is a little more insulated in their thick coats and solid boots. Instead of letting the cold temperatures overwhelm you, be thankful that you are saved from the not-so-friendly odors of a big, busy city. (more…)

If you are searching for an entertaining and nostalgic way to celebrate Halloween without dressing up and passing out candy, then plan on joining the Branford/ East Haven community Thursday, October 27 at Hagaman Memorial Library for a screening of Hocus Pocus.

Hocus Pocus is a 1993 film that features Bette Milder, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as three 17th century witches who are summoned into present-day Salem. This hilarious film filled with wacky witches, magic spells and a talking cat is part of everyone’s favorite Halloween tradition. (more…)

When you live in a CTBest apartment, you can expect both a comfortable living space and an active community for you to spend your time in. Our residents in Branford apartments have an exciting event to look forward to toward the end of August with the Branford Rotary 3rd Annual Classic Car Show.

For those looking for a fun and cost-effective way to spend a Sunday afternoon, you should make a trip to the car show on August 21! This free event will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Branford Farmers’ Market Tent.

This event is perfect for car lovers and those just looking for something new to try. Visitors will get to see more than 150 vintage automobiles at the show. The display will be varied and feature both domestic and international cars made from several different manufacturers. (more…)

It is a normal Saturday afternoon, and you are relaxing in your apartment enjoying the day. The apartment could maybe use some cleaning, but you decide you will do it Sunday and continue to relax today. Then, the phone rings. Your parents have decided to make a surprise visit and let you know they are five minutes away. To make it look like you have your life together perfectly, you know you must make your apartment look clean unless you never want them to live this down. How do you do this in five minutes?! Don’t worry! Here are a few tips beyond just stashing clutter in baskets and closets to quickly make your apartment look cleaner in five minutes:

Repurpose Empty Spaces: Instead of trying to find the spot those pencils and other office supplies go, put them in an empty mug or small container nearby. It looks creative and cleans up the mess.

Clean Floors: Clean floors help your guests not feel dirty walking around with socks or barefoot. If you have hardwoods and carpet, only vacuum. Using only a vacuum cuts the time it takes to sweep and vacuum, and a vacuum can be used on multiple floor surfaces.

Touch Up the Bathroom: Be sure to clean up any toothpaste from the sink, make sure there is toilet paper and put a little bleach in the toilet bowl. Quick touch ups in the bathroom go a long way.

Wipe Down Surfaces: Grab a microfiber cloth and wet it, and wipe down surfaces throughout the house. This can get gunk off counters in the kitchen and dust off other surfaces.

Fluff the Apartment: Mainly focus on the living room. Fluff your pillows and fold up blankets to create an inviting atmosphere.

Keeping to these basics and working swiftly are how you can quickly make your apartment look cleaner and inviting to your parents and other surprise guests. You can use these tips to clean your Connecticut apartment any time you are running low on time. For more information on apartments in Branford, Hamden/New Haven, Norwalk or Stamford, give leasing consultant Desiree a call or text at 203-223-1665 or visit www.CTBestApts.com.

It doesn’t matter what you’re celebrating, everyone loves going to holiday parties. But if you’re the one hosting the celebration, things can often go from zero to stressful very quickly. But, there’s no need to worry; here’s how to host a sophisticated holiday party without maxing out your stress levels.

- Have a plan, and don’t be afraid to delegate if you’ve just got too much on your plate. Do as much as you can ahead of time to eliminate any last-minute disasters. Definitely clean a few days ahead and cook dishes that freeze well so all you have to do the day of is thaw and reheat everything. You can also consult this handy timeline if you’re not sure when you should be getting things done.

- When serving food for a large party, a buffet is key. Create visual appeal with dishes served at various heights. (more…)

With October upon us and Halloween very near, what better way to get in the mood than by going to a haunted house? Haunted houses range from trails to train rides, to haunted hay rides to buildings. No matter how you like to get your thrills, we found two haunted houses that are sure to make you scream and are less than 30 minutes away from our Branford and New Haven communities.

The Only Scream in Town offers two haunted houses, the Inferno and Total Armageddon, which are some of the scariest ones in Connecticut. Inferno brings you into the underworld where you will experience different levels of fear known only by its infernal inhabitants. It gets scarier every level you push forward to, but if it gets too scary they do allow you to escape. Total Armageddon brings you into the end of the world, where your only chance for survival is to escape through the ruins from the mutants. No one is safe. (more…)

As the seasons change, your apartment is probably screaming for a makeover. CTBest knows the importance of having a space you love coming home to, so we’ve gathered some decorating ideas to spice up your luxury Connecticut apartment this fall.

To get the feeling of fall as soon as you come home, decorate your front door. A decorative wreath can really set the tone for the rest of your apartment, and there are plenty of ready-to-hang options out there. Or, if you’re more into DIY, Pinterest is definitely the place to go to get all the inspiration you need. Pumpkins are also a great way to add to your entry. (more…)

Summer is nearing its end, everyone is headed back to school, and we want to know what you did! Whether you caught some rays at the shore in Norwalk, went hiking at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, took a peek into the past in historic Branford or attended one of the many exciting events in Downtown Stamford, we hope you’ve had an awesome summer packed full of new and amazing memories. Luckily, you can make summer last a little longer and get rewarded for it by submitting a photo of your favorite memory from the last few months in the CTBest Summer Memory Contest.

CTBest Apartments is offering a $50 gift card to one of Connecticut’s top restaurants! And winning this awesome prize has never been easier: all you have to do is submit your favorite summer memory photo on our Facebook page with the hashtag #CTBestSummerMemoryContest by Sept. 30, 2015 and you’ll be automatically entered to win the gift card. (more…)